The Witches' Market, Traditional medicine marketplace in Cerro Cumbre, La Paz, Bolivia
The Witches' Market is a sprawling marketplace located along Calles Jiménez and Linares in the Cerro Cumbre neighborhood, where vendors arrange stalls filled with dried herbs, oils, powders, and ritual items. The stalls offer everything related to traditional healing and spiritual practices, from everyday remedies to rare ceremonial objects.
The marketplace grew from ancestral Aymara healing practices, where traditional knowledge about plants and spiritual care has been passed down through generations. Over time, it developed into the prominent commercial hub for natural medicine that exists today in La Paz.
Healers wearing distinctive black hats work among the stalls, selling herbs and ritual items that play a role in local spiritual ceremonies and family traditions. The market reflects how traditional healing knowledge remains woven into daily life for many residents.
The marketplace is easily reached on foot and remains open during daylight hours, with vendors accepting cash in local and international currency. It is best to arrive in the morning when selections are fullest and crowds are lighter.
Among the merchandise are unusual items like dried llama fetuses and feathers from rare birds, which hold specific purposes in local foundation rituals performed for buildings and homes. Many visitors are struck by the sight of these distinctive objects displayed openly among everyday herbal remedies.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
